Consumers should heat N95 masks to disinfect them

Experts recommend this method to reduce the number of masks that are discarded after one use

Photo (c) JOE CICAK - Getty ImagesSince the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, legislators have worried about the availability of protective gear for those on the frontlines. Consumers have even started making masks at home to help offset the number of masks being reserved for those who need them most.

Now, researchers at the American Chemical Society believe they have found an easy way for consumers to reuse N95 medical-grade masks: heating. Their study found that heating the masks after each use can disinfect them for up to 50 wears.

“The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has led to a major shortage of N95 respirators, which are essential for protecting healthcare professionals and the general public who may come into contact with the virus,” the researchers wrote. “Thus, it is essential to determine how we can reuse respirators and other personal protective equipment in these urgent times.”

Sustainable protection

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have outlined several strategies for consumers to disinfect their N95 masks, but the researchers say none of them have really been put to the test.

For this study, the researchers explored a few of these strategies to see which would work best for medical workers. They experimented with bleach treatment, steam, heating, and UV exposure.

The researchers used each disinfectant method on pieces of an N95 mask and tested how effective the mask was at filtering out particles both before and after the sanitizing process.

Ultimately, heating the mask proved to be the best option for reuse. While the researchers worry about how excessive wear could affect the shape and fit of the mask, heating the mask for 20 minutes at 185 degrees Fahrenheit was effective. According to the study, consumers could do this process up to 50 times and still be adequately protected by the N95 mask.

The researchers also learned that UV exposure, bleach treatments, and steam treatments were ineffective options for disinfecting the N95 mask, as none of the masks could withstand the long-term nature of such efforts.

The researchers found that the mask wouldn’t hold up under the highest UV conditions necessary to kill germs, whereas one single trial of bleach and ethanol greatly reduced the protective quality of the mask. Similarly, the steam treatment became ineffective by the fifth trial, at which point the wearer would get no protective benefits.

Disinfecting masks can be a tricky process. As the researchers explained, the ultimate goal is always protecting the wearer. These findings could ease the burden for medical professionals facing a shortage of protective equipment.

Kristen Dalli is a New York native and recent graduate of Marist College. She has worked as a writer and editor for several different companies and publications, including Thought Catalog, The Oddysey, Thomas Greco Publishing, and several travel blogs.